You receive a "Validation Incomplete: Online Validation Failure" error message or a "0x80080204" error code when you try to validate Windows XP (906533)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional

SYMPTOMS

When you run the Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool to validate your copy of Microsoft Windows XP, you receive the following error message or the following error code:

Error message
Validation Incomplete: Online Validation Failure.
Error code
0x80080204
Note Windows Genuine Advantage uses the Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool. This tool scans the Windows product key to determine whether the computer's operating system is genuine.

CAUSE

This issue may occur if the computer's date and time are not set to the current date and time.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, set the date and time in Windows XP to the current date and time. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Use an account that has administrative credentials to log on to Windows.
  2. Click Start, click Run, type timedate.cpl, and then click OK.
  3. Click the Date & Time tab, and then set the date and time to the current date and time.
  4. Click Apply, and then click OK.
  5. Quit all instances of Microsoft Internet Explorer.
  6. Start Internet Explorer, and then try to validate Windows again.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:9/7/2006
Keywords:kberrmsg kbtshoot kbprb KB906533 kbAudEndUser
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